Cebu deserves fine quality wine and Bibendum Wines aims to provide Cebuanos access to a wide selection of French, American, and New World bottles with the recent opening of another branch in the wine cellar of The Tinder Box.
Margaret Taylor, Bibendum Wines proprietor, said they carry a range of reasonably priced to very expensive bottles from such countries as France, USA, Spain, Australia, and South Africa for that everyday glass or important occasion.
“Cebu deserves the same quality of wine as Manila. We have the largest selection in the Visayas and Mindanao. I’m quite proud to say we also have a collection of expensive wines. Our wines are quite good because we store them carefully,” she said.
Bibendum Wine Cellars
Bibendum is able to maintain the exemplary quality of wines they import by utilizing refrigerated containers and climate-controlled facilities, including vinecaves, all throughout the shipping and storing process, according to Taylor’s son Hans Eulenhofer.
Bibendum Wines has been the go-to shop for fine wines in Central and Southern Philippines since 2012. Aside from a store at Streetscape on Maria Luisa Road that opened in early 2016, the Bibendum Wine Cellars at The Tinder Box in Banilad is now open as well.
With so many kinds to choose from, it might seem a bit daunting to pick the perfect bottle. Taylor said they’ve made it easy by providing a point system and brief descriptions. Bibendum Wines places the ratings by professional wine critics beneath the wine bottles.
“Everything is labelled. Anything with rating of over 85 is very good and over 90, super excellent. We’ve arranged our wines by sector to make it easy for our customers,” she said.
Best-selling wines
There are shelves of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Rose, and Riesling, to name a few. A great selection of quality wine falls within the P350-P550 price range, added Taylor.
According to Taylor, the Margaux, priced over P40,000, and Bordeaux wines are among the most expensive in the Bibendum Wines collection.
Eulenhofer said their best-selling wines are of the Haussmann and Kressmann brands. “These are wine houses in France and they carry different varieties. What makes them popular is the consistent taste of their wines. The taste profile is the same year on year,” he said.
Taylor said Cebuanos also love the Riesling by the Chateau Ste. Michelle winery.
Enomatic machine
Eulenhofer said customers can either purchase wine to take home with them or to a party, or they can buy a glass or bottle to enjoy at The Tinder Box.
They can also buy by the glass at the Bibendum Wines Cellars through the enomatic machine, which has up to 12 different kinds available.
Bibendum Wines also accept orders for weekend baskets that come with assorted cold cuts, cheeses, and pre-chilled bottles of wine that customers can take with them on their picnic or island hopping trip. It also delivers right to a customer’s doorstep through Food Panda or its website at www.bibendumwines.com.
Bibendum Wine Cellars at The Tinder Box is open Sunday-Thursday from 8 am to 11 pm and Friday-Saturday from 8 am to 12 midnight. Bibendum Wines at the 2nd floor of Streetscape on Maria Luisa Road, Paseo Saturnino is open daily from 10 am to 11 pm. For product and membership inquiries, you can call (032) 266 6888 or visit www.bibendumwines.com.
